Christmas tree decorating

I don't always have the brightest ideas.  I usually mean well and in my head, they all work out fine.  Executing those ideas don't always turn out well, if they happen at all.  This Christmas season's harebrained idea?

Tinsel.

Did you know tinsel was still sold?  I didn't.  But then as I was walking down the Christmas aisle, there it was calling out to me.

When, you ask, did it finally occur to me that tinsel doesn't go well with two cats, a two year old and a one year old?  Oh, about an hour into putting it on the tree.  You know that point when you decide you're too far into it to turn back.  I was at least smart enough to do this while Evie was napping, but did have one cat in the mix...

Samuel concentrated very hard on his task...

Here's one proud little boy helping Mama...




 After three hours of tinseling, I declared the tree done.  Not because it had enough tinsel on it, but because I was done tinseling.

The tree was really pretty, especially at night with the tinsel sparkling against the lights.  Although, by Christmas morning the lowest branches of the tree had considerably less tinsel than I put on it.  And Dan found Buddy (our cat) one day with a piece of tinsel hanging out of his butt.  But, other than that, it wasn't too bad.  However, next year I think I'll come up with a new harebrained idea.  ;)

Flower girl

This post dates back to Thanksgiving Day.  My sisters Cathy, Coady and their families came down for the day.  My sister Cathy owns/operates a florist and gift shop, so she always comes bearing fresh flower arrangements (thanks Cath!). 

It was a really nice, warm day, so I had Evie in a cute little blue and yellow dress and had her hair in her usual pigtails.  Cathy plucked a flower from her arrangement and stuck it in her hair.  And to our amazement, she left it there for quite a while.  I should have taken the time to get a really good picture, but it didn't occur to me at the time.  Nonetheless, this is too cute not to post:



Notice the lurker in the background?  Shortly before this picture was taken, Samuel got really upset/shy and went to his room to pout/hide.  When he heard commotion in the kitchen, it drew him out, but felt the need to stay at a distance for a bit.  After he saw the flower in Evie's hair, he came charging forward and turned back into his usual, chatty self.


Here's a link to Cathy's shop if you need to send flowers in the St. Louis area... A Moment of Grace Florist

Sam in a Hat

Samuel went around the house collecting his hats.  In a two year old's mind, it makes sense that if one hat is good, four is better.

First, you have to concentrate really hard to get the hats on just right...
 


Then you sit down and pose to show off your handy-work...